Help Nicaragua's Poor Climb out of Poverty

Opportunity is redefining education in the developing world through our work with the Emprendedora Technical School in Nicaragua. All 180 Emprendedora Technical School students are thriving and testing above the national average, and this success is attributed to excellent school leadership and dedicated teachers. New classrooms have been added and kids are benefitting from world-class curriculum, nutritious meals and access to clean water from a new well. Emprendedora Technical School also broke ground to construct two more classrooms to reach its full enrollment of 300 students in 2016-2017. Most importantly, the students are gaining experiential skills from a student-run hatchery, vegetable farm and butterfly farm that are preparing them for employment upon graduation. These student-run agriculture programs now offset 50% of the school expenses, achieving good progress toward self-sufficiency.

Opportunity Nicaragua, the Emprendedora Technical School and private investors are also collaborating on an eco-hotel that will create community jobs, provide hands-on hospitality training for Emprendedora students and protect the local environment. Income from the hotel will contribute to the school beginning in Spring 2016, and Emprendedora students who are involved in the Tourism program have toured the site to gain an understanding of what is involved in opening a hotel. These unique educational and experiential programs combined with your support will prepare these students for a brighter future while creating sustainable job opportunities in their community.

Links:

• Where We Work: Nicaragua
• Join Us On An Insight Trip

Four years ago, everything changed for struggling Nicaraguan farmer, Liseth. With very little knowledge about yucca and hibiscus farming and no access to capital, she was at a loss as to how to turn her farm into a profitable operation. In the meantime, her family suffered until a neighboring farmer introduced her to Opportunity. Armed with technical assistance, access to capital, seeds and markets, the sky is the limit for this mother of three growing kids. Today, both her yucca and hibiscus yields have increased by more than 30% as a result of the modern farming practices she is employing and the technical support she receives. Not only has her quantity grown but with a dramatically increased quality, her crops garner higher prices at market.

“I am delighted by the success I have achieved on my farm,” says Liseth, “but my greatest joy comes from using my increased income to invest in my children’s futures – their education, medicine and improvements to our home that have made it a safer, healthier environment. I have learned to continue to invest in my farm to ensure our future. I have most recently diversified my income to add pig, cattle and horse rearing. I had not thought about the impact I was achieving throughout the community until my Opportunity loan officer reminded me that the 30 jobs I have created for farmhands over the past four years helps the economy of the whole village. I am grateful for all I have accomplished. I feel empowered with a little help from Opportunity!”

Thanks to your support, Liseth and 1,307 of her fellow Nicaraguan farmers can provide for their families and harvest hope for their futures with technical assistance from Opportunity.

Links:

• Where We Work - Nicaragua
• Join an Insight Trip to Nicaragua